Singletracks Mountain Bike Podcast

Rick Reed is the Brand Manager for Ride Concepts, a mountain bike footwear company based in Reno, Nevada. Before joining Ride Concepts, he was a sales director at Five Ten. In this episode we ask Rick: Why are mountain bike shoes more expensive than “regular” shoes? Is there really an advantage to wearing something made specifically for biking? How does pedal grip translate to trail grip when it’s time to hike-a-bike? Is there a sweet spot when it comes to sole stiffness? Is stiffer always better, at least when you’re on the pedals? What do you think about the trend toward moving cleat positions back toward the mid foot? Are there advantages to using traditional laces instead of Velcro or something like a Boa, or is that just for aesthetics?   What types of features can be built into a shoe to provide protection against injury? What are the biggest constraints when it comes to designing a good bike shoe? How is the environmental footprint factored in when designing a pair of shoes? Are there ways the impact can be minimized? Where are most mountain bike shoes manufactured? How are women’s mountain bike shoes different from men’s shoes? When you sponsor athletes like Rachael Atherton, do you have a way of quantifying the return on that investment? Do influencers move the needle to a similar degree? Get more info about some of the shoes we covered in this episode at RideConcepts.com. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Douglas Carchrie is a bicycle mechanic, mountain bike guide, and mountain bike trail consultant at Big Mountain Scotland. He has also served as a national park conservation intern and conducted research into mountain biker behavior as a student at the University of Highlands and Islands in Scotland. In this episode, we ask: Do mountain bikers tend to bother animals more than other trail users? What are some of the things mountain bikers have been asked to do to avoid disturbing animals like the threatened Capercaillie bird? Based on your study, do you think most mountain bikers are willing to change their behavior if they understand the impact of their actions? Which methods are most effective when it comes to communicating conservation information to riders? There are a number of tools available to land managers, including enforcement, trail design, and education. Which ones provide the biggest impact in your opinion? Based on your experience as a mountain bike guide and director for Big Mountain Scotland, where are some of the best places to ride in the country? Read more about Carchrie's study here: https://www.bigmountainscotland.co.uk/post/mountain-bikers-awareness-of-capercaillie-in-the-cairngorms-national-park And if you missed part one of our discussion of mountain biking and the environment, be sure to go back and listen to our previous show, episode #279. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Doug Blease is a mountain biker and environmental researcher based in Scotland. He’s a member of IMBA-EU and has served in active trail planning roles with the Aberdeen Trail Association. In this interview, we ask: What does an environmental impact assessment look like when it comes to trail planning? How big of a concern is erosion when it comes to bikes, especially compared to other trail users? How resilient is nature in terms of the ecosystem? Could there be long-term effects due to trail building if it’s not done properly? As individuals, how can we minimize the impact of our rides? How can we balance the tension between creating opportunities to enjoy the environment, with protecting it from damage or overuse? How would you grade the mountain bike industry’s overall eco footprint? If you'd like to contact Doug for advice or to ask a question, email info@singletracks.com and we'll pass your message along. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks *Cover photo: Luis Ascenso Photography from Lisbon, Portugal, via Wikimedia Commons

Jeremiah Stone is a mountain bike skill instructor who has taught hundreds of riders across the western USA with Ninja Mountain Bike Performance and the Sedona Mountain Bike Academy. He’s also a freelance trail builder and machine operator in addition to being a skilled rider. In this interview, we ask: How did you develop your own mountain bike skills? Did you have a coach? Do you think today’s mountain bikes make it easier to be a good biker, compared to the equipment that was available in the old days? Timing seems to be a big factor when it comes to landing jumps or clearing doubles. How can riders develop a good sense of timing and speed? Why is it easier to ride a technical feature once you’ve seen someone else ride it first? What are some common bad habits when it comes to technical trail descending? Beyond improving physical fitness, are there skills that can make climbing on the bike more tolerable? Do you have any tips for helping riders overcome their fear of trying something new? How does that advice change for someone recovering from a traumatic crash? Connect with Jeremiah on Instagram @vitabrevis and learn more at ridelikeaninja.com.  --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Jon Cariveau is the head of marketing for Moots, the Steamboat Springs, Colorado based bike brand known for hand building premium, titanium bikes. Jon is a passionate rider and racer, and has been with the brand for 24 years, starting in the shop when Moots had less than half a dozen employees. Moots is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year so we look back at some of the brand's unique bike designs and product decisions over the years, starting with the YBB soft tail mountain bike released in the 1980s. We also ask: What are the biggest advantages of a titanium mountain bike frame? What are the disadvantages or tradeoffs? In 2010 Moots featured a "96er" in the lineup. Are you surprised to see mixed wheel bikes making a bit of a comeback today? As a company that is building bikes domestically, how has Moots been dealing with supply chain disruptions due to Covid? How does the company's location in Steamboat Springs, Colorado influence the products and design? What does Moots have in store for the next decade? What will we be talking about when Moots celebrates its 50th anniversary? To learn more about Moots, visit moots.com. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Tony Boone has been building mountain bike trails for more than 30 years, and literally helped write the book on the subject, contributing to IMBA’s Guides to Building Sweet Singletrack and Providing Great Riding. He established the first bike patrol in Colorado in 1989 and has been an active member of the Professional Trail Builders Association since 1995. Tony talks about the trail building and mountain bike scene in China, what it's like to work as a government land manager, and the projects he's most proud of. In this interview we also ask: What are some of the most common mistakes new trail builders make? How do concepts like sustainability and stewardship fit into recreational trail building? How do the early trails you built compare to the ones you’re involved in creating today? Can trail builders benefit from a more formal education? To connect with Tony, or to learn more about his work and the studies mentioned in this episode, choose from the following links. https://www.tonyboonetrails.com/ http://www.timberlinetrailcraft.com/ https://outdoorindustry.org/resource/2017-outdoor-recreation-economy-report/ https://www.bea.gov/data/special-topics/outdoor-recreation https://www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org/about-us/newsroom/bicycling-provides-137-million-in-economic-benefits-to-northwest-arkansas --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Earl Serafica is the owner of Earl’s Bike shop, a Specialized dealer located on the west side of Atlanta near the Georgia Tech campus and close to downtown. I first met Earl on a mountain bike ride several years ago, and he’s remained a good friend and tireless promoter of the local cycling community here in Atlanta. Earl talks about how the pandemic and surprising bike boom has affected business, and his approach to connecting with new and old customers.  We also ask: What’s the most common repair you make? Which repairs are more challenging? How has Covid affected your inventory and your ability to get bikes and parts? Which bikes sold the fastest in 2020? Do you worry that delays, and lack of inventory is pushing some folks toward alternatives like wrenching at home, or buying complete bikes online? How are e-bike sales looking? Which types of electric bikes are people choosing, and what do the buyers look like? Connect with Earl and his shop at earlsbike.shop. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Rab Wardell is a mountain bike athlete and coach living in Glasgow, Scotland. He recently set the fastest known time on the West Highland Way, a 96 mile off-road route connecting Milngavie and Fort William. In this episode, we find out what makes a Fastest Known Time (FKT) attempt different from other mountain bike races, and why Rab chose to challenge the FKT on the West Highland Way in Scotland. Rab outlines the steps he took to prepare his body and his gear for the attempt and shares some of the issues he faced during the ride. In addition to competing, Rab is also a cycling coach, and he shares his tips for building skills, confidence, and fitness that any rider can apply. For more info and to connect with Rab, visit rabwardell.com. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Simon Lawton is the founder of Fluidride, a world-class mountain bike instructional school that offers both online courses and in-person clinics around the world.  We first spoke with Simon on the podcast in the summer of 2019, and spent some time catching up and learning what mountain bike skills clinics and instruction look during Covid-19. With so many new mountain bikers joining the sport in 2020, Simon talks about the opportunity for not just skills training but also educating riders on trail use and etiquette. For those rejoining the sport, we ask if certain mountain bike skills can get rusty, and what it takes to break old habits. In this episode we also talk about the mountain bike scene in Baja, Mexico where Simon now spends his winter season. Connect with Simon and learn more at fluidride.com. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks

Fabio Wibmer is an Austrian trials rider and mountain biker with almost 6 million YouTube followers and is closing in on 1 billion views. He’s known for starring in videos like Wibmer’s Law, Fabiolous Escape 1 and 2, and most recently, Home Office. In addition to trials riding, Fabio is also a winning downhill and freeride mountain biker. In this episode, we ask Fabio how he got his start riding and talk about the athletes who have inspired him along the way. Fabio shares the source of his confidence on the bike, the projects he’s most proud of, and tells us what he would be doing if he weren’t a Red Bull sponsored athlete. We also ask if he considers himself a perfectionist, hear about his recovery from a recent broken foot, and learn his secret for pulling off a really good whip. You don’t want to miss this episode! Find Fabio on YouTube at youtube.com/user/fabwibmer and Instagram @wibmerfabio. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks